Keep your kids bright this winter!

Date published: 27/10/2006

With clocks going back an hour on Sunday (29 October) parents across Rochdale Borough are being reminded to make sure their children can 'Be Safe Be Seen' as the nights draw in.

The clock change means brighter mornings but darker evenings and, in 2005, more than half of the accidents involving child pedestrians in the North West happened between 3pm and 6pm. Last year 149 child pedestrians were killed and seriously injured on roads in Greater Manchester.

Rochdale Council's Road Safety Team is urging children to be safer by being more visible.  That means wearing fluorescent clothes by day and reflective clothing in the dark. 

Lead Member for the Environment amp; Sustainability, Councillor Wera Hobhouse said: "Younger children love wearing bright clothes and reflective badges and strips and many of them will really enjoy getting dressed up in a way that will keep them safe from traffic and make them stand out to motorists. Far too many of our children get hurt on the roads and we must all play our part in ensuring that they can be safe."

The THINK! campaign has produced the following top tips for children on how to stay safe when out and about this winter:

• Make sure you can be easily seen, especially at night, on dark days and in bad weather. 
• Bright or fluorescent clothes show up best by day, even in dull or misty weather.
• In the dark, reflective material is best and shows up in car headlights - remember fluorescent clothing doesn't work after dark.  You can put reflective tape on your coat or school bag to help you be seen by drivers.
• It is against the law to cycle at night without a white front light, a red back light and a red reflector at the back, so make sure that your bike is properly equipped and working.
• Cross the road at the safest place possible e.g. zebra, pelican and patrolled crossings. Remember to use the Green Cross Code: Stop, Look, Listen, Live.
• If you're out at night, choose routes that are well-lit by streetlights and cross the road at well-lit places.
• If there is no pavement and you have to walk on the road, always face the oncoming traffic - this is particularly important in poor light or in the dark.
• Find out about 'walking buses' where children walk in groups and are more visible by contacting your child's school or your local council.